Updated 11:03 pm, Wednesday, October 2, 2013

More than $540,000 has already been distributed to about 130 local families by the United Way of Western Connecticut and the Rotary Club of Newtown from an immediate needs fund established in the weeks after the tragedy.

But while requests for assistance for things like mortgage payments, fuel payments and electric bills have declined in recent months, officials said, requests for assistance with mental health costs are increasing.

"There are people in the community who didn't reach out for help before, but are realizing the pain isn't going away," said Rotary Club member Alan Clavette. "More and more people are beginning to reach out for help."

The fund, which is administered through the state Office of Victim Services, began handling requests for assistance only with mental health care costs as of Tuesday.

Those who have received assistance through the fund include first responders, survivors of the shooting, families of those killed, teachers and others in the community.

"It's been a very broad mix of families who have been helped from the fund," said Elizabeth Goehring, who helps to coordinate the program locally for the United Way.

While the fund was originally slated to be temporary, Clavette and others said they hope to keep it going as long as the needs are there and the money is available.

More than $30,000 a month is being distributed from the fund, according to Newtown Memorial Fund founder Brian Mauriello.

Mauriello said his group has agreed to provide about $15,000 a month to help keep the fund afloat.

The United Way provided the original $190,000 seed money, while the Rotary has contributed about $350,000 from donations it received from around the world in the months after the shooting.

"The amount of money that's needed every month is significant enough that it could bankrupt just one organization," Mauriello said. "We want to do what we can to make sure the fund exists as long as it's needed."

Kim Morgan, executive director of the United Way, said how long the fund remains in existence depends largely on money.

"Whether it will be another six months or a year, I can't say," she said. "But the needs will continue to be there."

Clavette said he's had early conversations with the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation about participating in the program.

"It's something the foundation will need to look at some point," said Morgan, an ex-officio member of the organization.

The foundation, which received the bulk of donations -- about $11.7 million -- has already distributed about $7.7 million to the 40 families most affected by the shooting.

How the remaining $4 million will be spent depends largely on a distribution committee of local volunteers being formed by the foundation.

Foundation officials have stressed that some of the money needs to be preserved for long-term needs, including those of mental health care, as the community continues to struggle with the Dec. 14 tragedy.